ON TESTIS AND EPlDlDYMlS OF RATS - Pondicherry University ...

metabolites. HCH, PCBs and PCDDs has been reported in the fluids of human
reproductive tract, such as seminal fluid, cervical niucus and I'olliculi~r fluid (li~r
review, see Pflieger-Bruss and Schill, 2000).
Changes in male reproduction of
wildlife by environmental contaminants involve feminization, demasculinization.
reduced fertility, reduced hatchability, reduced viability of the offspring, impaired
hormone secretion or activity and altered sexual behavior (for review, see Colborn et
al.. 1993).
A large number of chemicals, mainly pesticides, currently being used and
industrial waste have been implicated as environmental contaminants possessing
estrogenic andl or antiandrogenic properties (for review, see Colborn et al., 1993;
Gray er 01.. 2001).
Long-term exposure to small amounts of organochlorine
contaminants leads to accumulation of considerable burdens in animal and human
tissues (Calabrese, 1982). Neonatal exposure of rats to methoxychlor or DDf has not
been shown to affect male reproductive organ weights in adulthood (for review, see
Gray el a/., 2001). Male mice exposed to methoxychlor or DDT neither induced
epididymal cysts which are found frequently in mice exposed to synthetic estrogen
diethylstilbestrol (McLachlan, 1989). However, exposure throughout gestation and
lactat~on to methoxychlor in rodents resulted in slightly smaller testes and
epididymides and in lowered sperm counts in male offspring than in controls (Gray el
01.. 1989; Gray er ol., 1992). Chlordane has been shown to disturb spermatogenesis
and caused dose-related damage to the testes of mice. A fungicide vinclozolin has
been shown to disrupt sexual differentiation of male rats (Gray rr ul., 1994) while ye1
another fungicide benomyl caused a reduction in the number of spermatocytes and
produced multinucleated germ cells (Hcss cr ul.. 1991). Endosul'nn at thc dosc 01' I
mg/ Kg body weighcl day and lindane at the dose of 5 mL?/ Kg body weight have been
shown lo alter the weights of the testis and accessory sex organs in malo rats (('hitrn
er 01.. 1999; Sujatha el a/., 2001; Chitra er a/., 2001). Administration of methoxychlor
in adult rats has been shown to decrease weights of the accessory sex organs.
epididyn~sl sperm counts and motility (Latchoumycandane el ul.. 2002a). Induction
of oxidative stress in testis. epididymal sperm ind various regions of the epididymis